passed ordinance

*Amend grant agreements with organizations that serve youth for programming and employment support in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation not to exceed $640,000 in FY 2024-25

parks recreation
budget finance
grant

Department: Parks & Recreation
Introduced by: Councilor Dan Ryan
Status: Passed

Impact statement

Purpose & background

Beginning in 2015, as part of an overall expansion of investment in Teen Programs, PP&R has entered into grant agreements with youth-serving organizations to provide programming and employment support for teens in safe and supportive environments. Ordinance 187884, passed July 6, 2016, authorized seven two-year grant agreements. Ordinance 188969, passed May 30, 2018, authorized one-year extensions of the 2016 grant agreements. Ordinance 189547, passed June 5, 2019, authorized seven more two-year grant agreements. Ordinance 190456, passed June 16, 2021, authorized one-year extensions of the 2019 grant agreements. In November 2020, Portland voters approved the Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy). One of the levy’s commitments was to establish grant programs with the goal to expand access to parks, trails and recreation among historically underserved communities and people with disabilities. The Parks Levy made it possible for PP&R to increase grant support to community partners, and to build from the successful Teen Collaborative Initiative (TCI) with Community Partnership Program (CPP) Grants. In March 2022, PP&R conducted a competitive grant application process and selected twenty organizations to receive grants. City Ordinance No. 190911 was passed on June 29, 2022 and authorized two-year grant agreements with selected community partners. Recipients of TCI and CPP grant funding include: Teen Collaborative Initiative Grantees Elevate Oregon Latino Network Native American Youth and Family Center New Avenues for Youth Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center + Rosemary Anderson High School Self Enhancement, Inc. The Blueprint Foundation The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization Community Partnership Program Grantees Bravo Youth Orchestras Dance United Friends of Baseball Friends of Gateway Green Friends of Noise Girls on the Run Greater Oregon Home Forward Kids N’ Tennis, Inc. People of Color Outdoors Rose Community Development – Lents Youth Initiative Vanport Mosaic Selected organizations were chosen based on their readiness and expertise in engaging underserved youth through programming, mentoring and by providing varied activities and experiences that encourage responsible decision-making and positive behaviors. These organizations lead positive activities and programming during out of school time and participate in an ongoing youth service-learning community with PP&R, which supports program quality improvement, collaboration, and networking. This network of partners has substantive dialogue regarding best practices for youth development in Portland. A two-year grant agreement with the Portland Parks Foundation (PPF) was authorized through City Ordinance No. 691, passed on August 3, 2022, to support the Portland Parks Foundation’s Small Grants Program. This grant focuses additional Parks Levy resources on supporting and building capacity of smaller, emerging non-profits. With these small grants, PPF has committed to prioritizing organizations supporting low-income populations, communities of color, and other marginalized groups. PP&R’s grant support has increased PPF’s capacity to provide direct financial support to community-based organizations in Portland who foster equitable access to PP&R’s urban parks, natural areas, community gardens and community recreation centers.

Financial impacts

For Fiscal Year 2024-25, the aggregate amount of grant funding that will be allocated to selected organizations for one-year grant extensions is not to exceed $640,000. $280,000 is built into the Teen Program’s ongoing budget. An additional $360,000 will be determined by Parks Local Option Levy funds to support community partnerships.

Community impacts

This project is in alignment with the values and goals of the Citywide Racial Equity Goals and Strategies to build organizational capacity; to improve access to City services for communities of color and Immigrant and refugee communities; to support existing services using racial equity best practices; and to collaborate and partner with other institutions and communities to achieve meaningful results. This project is in alignment with the values and goals of the Parks Local Option Levy to prioritize services for communities of color and households experiencing poverty, including equity-centered engagement and outreach, community partnership grants, and increased engagement with volunteer and partner groups. The overall framework for the Teen Collaborative Initiative was shaped through meetings with community stakeholders held during Fiscal Year 2014-15. Community stakeholders included representatives from large and small youth serving non-profits, other governmental agencies, private citizens, and other bureau representatives. The process for soliciting and awarding grants to youth-serving organizations was reviewed and improved with an RFI process in 2019. The process was updated and expanded to the Teen Collaborative Initiative and Community Partnership Program grant application process in 2022. Community Partnership Program | Portland.gov

▸ Full text (the legislation as adopted)

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: Beginning in 2015, as part of an overall expansion of investment in Teen Programs, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has entered into grant agreements through the Teen Collaborative Initiative (TCI) with youth-serving organizations to provide programming and employment support for teens in safe and supportive environments. These organizations lead positive activities and programming during out of school time, with a focus on youth who may be impacted by violence or represent underserved communities and/or communities of color. The TCI seeks to decrease youth exposure to negative activity and increase positive networks and peer relationships. In November 2020, Portland voters approved the Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy). One of the levy’s commitments was to establish grant programs with the goal to expand access to parks, trails and recreation among historically underserved communities and people with disabilities. The Parks Levy has made it possible for PP&R to increase grant support to community partners, and to build from the successful Teen Collaborative Initiative (TCI) with Community Partnership Program (CPP) Grants. In March 2022, PP&R conducted a competitive grant application process. City Ordinance No. 190911 was passed on June 29, 2022 and authorized two-year grant agreements with selected community partners. Recipients of TCI and CPP grant funding include: Teen Collaborative Initiative Grantees Elevate Oregon (Contract 32002924) Latino Network (Contract 32002850) Native American Youth and Family Center (Contract 32002926) New Avenues for Youth (Contract 32002930) Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center + Rosemary Anderson High School (Contract 32002851) Self Enhancement, Inc. (Contract 32002928) The Blueprint Foundation (Contract 32002846) The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (Contract 32002929) Community Partnership Program Grantees Bravo Youth Orchestras (Contract 32002853) Dance United (Contract 32003010) Friends of Baseball (Contract 32002852) Friends of Gateway Green (Contract 32003022) Friends of Noise (Contract 32003223) Girls on the Run Greater Oregon (Contract 32002933) Home Forward (Contract 32002925) Kids N’ Tennis, Inc. (Contract 32002948) People of Color Outdoors (Contract 32002985) Rose Community Development – Lents Youth Initiative (Contract 32002927) Vanport Mosaic (Contract 32002939) Selected organizations employ engagement strategies that support leadership and skill development, including: Job skills development and youth employment support; Opportunities for youth to develop interpersonal skills, and build healthy relationships; Access to caring adults and positive role models; Opportunities for youth to participate in greening activities, and develop skills that will prepare them for careers in the green sector; Opportunities for youth to participate in organized sports and other physical activities; Opportunities for youth to participate in arts, music, dance, and other enrichment activities; and Opportunities to build skills and connect youth with academic resources. Selected organizations participate in an ongoing youth service-learning community with PP&R, which supports program quality improvement, collaboration, and networking. This network of partners has substantive dialogue regarding best practices for youth development in Portland. Selected organizations were chosen based on their readiness and expertise in engaging underserved youth through programming, mentoring and by providing varied activities and experiences that encourage responsible decision-making and positive behaviors. Selected organizations are aligned with PP&R’s core values of building resilient young adults that are confident and strong in their identity, feel supported in making good choices for their future and are protected from the risks and challenges teens face. This grant program has also focused on building connections across partner organizations, as well as increasing communication and collaboration across PP&R service areas. Grant funding supports larger non-profits and focuses resources on supporting and building capacity of smaller, emerging non-profits across focus areas like the arts, nature-based programming, sports, and other recreational activities. Through the Community Partnership Program, a two-year grant agreement with the Portland Parks Foundation was authorized through City Ordinance No. 691, passed on August 3, 2022, to support the Portland Parks Foundation’s Small Grants Program. With these small grants, PPF has committed to prioritizing organizations supporting low-income populations, communities of color, and other marginalized groups. PP&R’s grant support has increased PPF’s capacity to provide direct financial support to community-based organizations in Portland who foster equitable access to PP&R’s urban parks, natural areas, community gardens and community recreation centers. PP&R seeks authorization from City Council to extend existing grants for one year on behalf of the City of Portland starting July 1, 2024. The anticipated aggregate grant funding amount to all organizations will not exceed $640,000 for FY 2024-25. The maximum award not to exceed $40,000 to any one organization. PP&R will ensure that all grantees will be listed on PP&R’s Community Partnership Program website. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: The Director of PP&R, or designee, is authorized to extend existing grant agreements with selected organizations for up to one year in an aggregate amount not to exceed $640,000, with the maximum award to each organization not to exceed $40,000 per grant. PP&R shall prepare grant extension documentation that conforms to the Teen Collaborative Initiative and Community Partnership Program requirements, and all extensions to grant agreements shall be subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. The Director and Auditor are hereby authorized to pay the grant amounts stated in the agreements subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney, to the extent such funds have been allocated in PP&R’s Budget. Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because delay in the execution of the grant extensions will unduly jeopardize the availability of programming for underserved youth, particularly in the summer months; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.

Tally

5 yea 0 nay